Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Kind of shows how important it is to communicate with people in their own languages. Can this be the precursor to have compulsory third language classes in national schools or increase national type schools as well?
Tamil-speaking Goh able to rally Tanjung Malim Indian community
SLIM RIVER: Without looking at him, one may mistake Tanjung Malim MCA secretary Goh Kim Swee for an Indian as he speaks fluent Tamil. “Neenga nalama irukerengala (Are you okay)? ” Goh asked a resident in Tamil.
Campaigning for Tanjung Malim parliamentary seat contestant Datuk Ong Ka Chuan, Goh greeted Indians in Tamil and then introduced Ong to them as they visited the wet market, small factories and the town area in Slim River yesterday morning.
Indians make up 13.22% in the Slim state constituency and 15.46% in the Tanjung Malim parliamentary constituency.
Goh, 44, who is also a new village development officer and personal assistant to former Tanjung Malim MP Datuk Loke Yuen Yow, mixed with Indians easily and whenever the campaigning team met up with Indians, he would end up chatting with them.
Ong was more than happy to be introduced to the Indians in an Indian way. “Goh is helpful and there is harmony in the team. “This gives me more confidence,” said Ong.
Even at a meeting with Tanjung Malim MIC members, Goh was greeted by Tanjung Malim MIC chairman Datuk K. R. A. Naidu before he began his speech and many regard Goh as half Indian.
Having grown up at Sungai Chinoh Estate with lots of Indian friends, Goh picked up the Tamil language . “There are 75% Indians and only 5% Chinese in Sungai Chinoh Estate. That is why I speak Tamil well,” said Goh.
At a meeting with MIC members in the Tanjung Malim parliamentary constituency held in Slim on Monday evening, Ong said he would continue with Loke’s way to help the Indians. “Datuk Loke took good care of the Indians here. I will continue to do so,” he told MIC members.
Also present at the meeting were Barisan candidates Datuk S. Veerasingam (Sungkai) and Datuk M. Ramasamy (Behrang) and Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abd Talib (Slim).
Goh said Loke had allocated RM170,000 for 14 Tamil schools in Tanjung Malim in 2006 and RM180,000 last year.
Ong also visited the Krishnan temple located in Ladang Sungai Kruit, Sungkai and met up with IPF members in Sungkai last night.
